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Cucumber Khrustishka belongs to those varieties that are distinguished by their unpretentiousness. You can grow Khrustishka cucumbers in any of the Russian regions, since the greens of this crop can easily grow both in open ground and in greenhouses. The Khrustishka cucumber was presented by LLC Research Institute for Breeding Vegetable Crops and LLC Agrofirma Aelita in 2015, at the same time the variety was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation.
Description of the cucumber variety Khrustishka
The height of the Khrustishka cucumber bush reaches 1.2 m in open ground and more than 3 m in greenhouse conditions, the plant grows quickly and strongly, and is paternocarpic.
The leaves of the Khrustishka cucumber are located on long petioles; small dark green greenery is decorated with bright veins. The leaves themselves are small but numerous.
The inflorescences of the Khrustishka cucumber form small bouquets. Each internode contains at least 7 ovaries, the flowering type is female.
Detailed description of the fruits
Cucumber Khrustishka F1 is a variety with impeccable performance, the description of which is completely true:
- Khrustishka cucumbers are oval, pointed, quite miniature: they reach about 10 cm in length and weigh 80 g;
- the surface of the greens is covered with small pimples that have white “spikes”;
- the skin is not thick, there are barely noticeable stripes on its surface;
- the taste characteristics of the variety are high: the fruit is juicy and crispy both fresh and salted, the pulp is sweet, there is no bitter aftertaste;
- The fruits are universal in use: they are suitable for preparing vitamin-rich summer salads, together with meat dishes and other vegetables, and are used in canning, since they completely retain their shape in a jar without losing their taste.
Characteristics of the variety
Cucumber Khrustishka F1 has a number of features, including the ability to form ovaries without pollination. In view of this, the hybrid can be grown not only in open ground, where pollinating insects move freely, but also in a greenhouse, where access is difficult for them. In such cucumbers (parthenocarpics), seeds are either absent or do not develop to the desired state, so it is not possible to collect your own seed material.
Productivity
The Khrustishka cucumber, the description and reviews of which attract the attention of gardeners, has other distinctive features:
- The variety is early ripening. The first fruits appear 45 - 50 days after the appearance of the first shoots;
- Productivity indicators are high: for every square meter there are at least 10 kg of cucumbers. The stability of high yields ensures good plant immunity, as well as a reduced level of cultivation requirements;
- Despite the fact that the Khrustishka cucumber can grow in different regions of the country, cold weather can affect the condition of the plant.But the variety is still frost-resistant, so it is not afraid of slight drops in temperature.
Resistance to pests and diseases
The Khrustishka cucumber variety has good immunity. Therefore, diseases characteristic of nightshades do not pose a high danger to it:
- powdery mildew;
- tobacco mosaic virus;
- root rot;
- olive spot.
The Khrustishka cucumber is also moderately resistant to downy mildew, which most often affects green plants.
Pros and cons of the variety
Khrustishka cucumbers, reviews of which and photos suggest that the variety is ideal for growing, has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of this type of cucumber include:
- high productivity;
- excellent taste;
- perfect appearance;
- high immunity;
- ease of care;
- early maturation;
- the possibility of growing the variety in a greenhouse without the participation of pollinators;
- versatility in terms of application.
The only disadvantages include the fact that it is impossible to collect the seeds of this cucumber, so seeding material will have to be purchased annually, as well as the fact that plants of this variety require mandatory staking.
Growing rules
The Khrustishka cucumber can please you with its fruits earlier than other varieties. To do this, you just need to follow the growing rules.
Sowing time
Good yield begins with proper planting:
- Seeds can be sown in the ground in May if the weather is warm and stable enough. At the same time, the soil temperature in the exhaust gas must be at least 12 °C;
- Cucumbers can be planted as seedlings as early as April. In order for the seeds to germinate and seedlings to begin to grow, the air temperature must be between 20 – 25 °C.Planting of seedlings in the ground is carried out in the last days of May; at least 3 true leaves should form on them;
- The timing of planting in greenhouses depends on whether they are heated or not. In the first case, the seeds can be sown in April, in the second - in May. Planting seedlings in a greenhouse should also be determined by the temperature level in it.
Selecting a location and preparing beds
The variety loves warmth, so it is best to plant cucumbers in areas where sunlight predominates and there are no drafts. Partial shade areas are also suitable for planting. The main thing is that the width and length of the beds allow the plants to be planted in such a way that they are not crowded, otherwise the yield will decrease. Regarding the soil, it also needs to be enriched before planting cucumbers. Most often, a complex fertilizer is used, for example, wood ash, which is sprinkled on the ground so that there is about a tablespoon for each grown bush.
How to plant correctly
If sowing seeds is carried out in open ground, then the cucumber is planted in the prepared substrate according to the scheme: one seed for every 30 cm. The soil should be moist and thoroughly loosened. The seeds are buried a few millimeters into the ground: it is recommended to simply sprinkle them with soil.
In the case of planting seedlings, it is also necessary to follow some rules:
- To prevent growing cucumbers from being crowded, they are planted according to a certain pattern: 1 bush on a 30 cm square.
- The soil should be enriched with organic fertilizers.
- Before planting, make a hole, spill it with warm water and place the seedling in it.
- After this, the roots and a small part of the stem are sprinkled with earth so that the seedlings stand at an angle of approximately 75 ° C. This is necessary so that the fragile stems do not break under the influence of the wind. If planting is carried out in a greenhouse, then the degree of inclination can be ignored.
Aftercare for cucumbers
Cucumber Khrustishka F1 is an unpretentious variety. However, you need to know about a number of general rules for plant care:
- It is best to form a hybrid with 1 stem;
- gartering is mandatory;
- fertilizing is applied three times during the growing season using water-soluble mineral fertilizers;
- Watering is carried out once a day, and during the formation of ovaries the amount of moisture must be increased, so it is recommended to water the cucumbers during this period in the morning and evening;
- the lower leaves should be removed regularly to ensure good air flow to the roots;
- During the first week of fruiting, it is recommended to remove greens that have not yet fully ripened. Subsequently, you can let the fruits ripen to the end.
Conclusion
Cucumber Khrustishka is a universal variety that is loved by many summer residents and experienced gardeners. The main advantage of the crop is the high yield and excellent taste of the fruit.
